Excellence- Part 8

"How do you fight discouragement, Paul?"

Paul's answer is in verses 17-18.  “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18, ESV)  

 It's a matter of perspective, isn't it?    Paul says, "We keep our focus on the eternal things.  This teaches us a huge lesson: an earthly perspective will discourage.   So that's the prescription, but what does that look like?  Paul gives us 4 practical things to consider as we fight discouragement.  Here's the first one:

 

#1. Trust the Power of the Gospel.   Where do I get that?   This comes behind the little word "therefore" in verse 1.   Behind that little word in Chapter 3, verses 17-18 we learn that this Gospel is a Spirit empowered Gospel; and that it is life-transforming. 

The OLD Covenant	The NEW Covenant
Of the letter	Of the Spirit  3:6
Kills	Gives life  3:6
Glorious	More glorious  3:7-11
Ministry of condemnation	Ministry of righteousness  3:9
Ministry passing away	Ministry which remains  3:11
Ministry with a veil	Ministry which is unveiled  3:12-17
Ministry which hardens hearts	Ministry which gives liberty  3:14-17
Transformed one	Transforms all  3:18

 

Beloved, the Gospel is inherently powerful.  It is not only powerful to save (Col 1:3-6 ), but it is powerful to keep.  Notice Romans 1:16 (ESV), "¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."   That's encouraging.  The Gospel is powerful to save all who believe.